Online gambling has become increasingly prevalent in Australia. Even the world over, millions of people are participating in all forms of online betting as per Outlook India. However, this has led to addiction, financial ruin, and social consequences.
Australia’s Gambling Issues
The Australian Government has been persistently addressing the growing concerns surrounding online gambling addiction and associated harms. In this regard, they have announced measures to protect citizens from the dangers of online gambling.
The Australian Labor Party is planning to introduce some new laws. They intend to ban the use of credit cards and similar financial products for online betting. This will keep people from gambling excessively online.
Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill entails significant fines for companies that don’t abide by the ban, with penalties of up to $234,750. The law is intended to prevent people from spending too much money on online gambling.
Michelle Rowland, the Minister for Communications, emphasized the importance of responsible gambling. She said: “People should not be betting with money they do not have.”
And Australia is not alone in facing troubles associated with gambling.
Many other countries are also tightening their rules on online gambling. For example, the UK Gambling Commission banned credit cards for gambling in April 2020. It found that 22% of online gamblers using credit cards had gambling problems.
Banning the use of credit cards for online gambling is part of a worldwide trend. It encourages responsible gambling and protects people.
National Consumer Protection Framework
The National Consumer Protection Framework is a set of measures to regulate online gambling. These include monthly activity statements detailing wins and losses, evidence-based taglines, and consistent training for employees in online gambling companies.
The government also proposed the establishment of Bet Stop, a National Self-Exclusion Register. Bet Stop will allow consumers to exclude themselves from all Australian licensed wagering services for anywhere between three months and a lifetime.
The government is also planning to approve mandatory customer pre-verification. This will require wagering service providers to verify the identity of customers. This must be done during registration and before players can place bets.
Parliamentary Inquiries & More
The Australian government is considering recommendations for a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling. This ongoing examination will inform future measures regarding the harms of online gambling. The government will also be able to show its commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens in the realm of online gaming.
Moreover, the Australian government is planning to ban advertisements for online gambling across all media platforms. This will help combat the perceived manipulation of an impressionable and vulnerable audience.
This recommendation comes after months of ongoing debate about the prevalent online betting advertisements. Even high-ranking political figures, like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, described these ads as “annoying.”
The Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has also called for a ban on ads.
The policy applies to audio, video, and print ads for all forms of gambling other than lotteries.
